Sayyid Saunders, Harry S. Truman leave state finals loaded with gold

By Tom Pfaff Correspondent

Saturday

May 26, 2018 at 9:15 PM

SHIPPENSBURG — Harry S. Truman senior Sayyid Saunders was asked the question, "Was Saturday the best day in the Tigers' track history?"

"Yes it is — for the school, for us," Saunders said after he won a pair of individual PIAA Class 3A titles, in the 100-meter dash (10.62 seconds) and 200 (21.40), plus ran the second leg of Truman's 4x100 relay, which won in 41.57. "I'm proud of my (4x100 teammates, junior James Koliyah, senior Badr Fask and sophomore Terrance Rogers). I'm proud of myself for how we got to where we are."

It's hard to argue with Saunders after the second day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University's Seth Grove Stadium.

Among other highlights, Council Rock North sophomore Kate Donnelly captured the girls Class 3A high jump title at 5-7. Though the top three finishers all reached that same height, Donnelly ultimately won by requiring fewer jumps to accomplish it.

"I cleared 5-7 on my first attempt, and I was clean up to then, with no misses," Donnelly said. "This was unexpected: I had been stuck at 5-5, and hadn't anything higher, then today, I cleared 5-7.

"Actually, I usually don't like jumping in hot weather, because the sun makes me hot and drains my energy, but I stayed under a tent after my jumps, so that helped."

For Donnelly, this win has the potential to change her trajectory about the future.

"I was indecisive about college, but now that I have this under my belt, I'm definitely more confident," Donnelly said.

For another state champion, Neshaminy senior Rusty Kujdych, his spring season and that of Council Rock North senior Ryan Campbell took disparate paths to the final race of their high school careers, the PIAA Class 3A 3,200-meter race.

Kujdych, the two-time 3A district champion in the 3,200, was completing a senior year during which he won state titles in cross country and indoor track — and was going for a state trifecta in this race Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, Campbell had struggled much of senior year with his endurance and resulting times until he was diagnosed after winter season with Celiac disease, forcing him to adopt a gluten-free diet.

In the end, Kujdych and Campbell ended in the same place: the medal podium, with Kujdych at the top as the state champion — his senior trifecta accomplished — and Campbell to his right, having earned a bronze medal for third place.

All things considered, Kujdych and Campbell could appreciate the moment, among the better local moments from this state meet, for everything they had done to get there.

"Great competition pushes me: I learned from the last three years and the mistakes I made," said Kujdych, who will continue his track career at Division I program Georgetown University. "So I was able to put together better races than I ever had before."

Kujdych, who had finished third last year in this race, also admired Campbell for overcoming health issues to continue competing at a high level.

"(Campbell) isn't being given enough credit for what he does, because he had a rough end to indoor season and the early part of this spring," Kujdych said. "The fact that he came back — he told me on the podium that he PR'd (personal record) by 30 seconds over the past three weeks, that just shows what kind of runner he is, how talented he is and how hard he works.

"(Campbell) deserves a third-place medal more than anyone else."

Campbell gave some insight into what he had encountered.

"Going into the season, I didn't really know what to expect," said Campbell, who will continue his track career at Division I program University of North Carolina. "(Celiac) beats up your body, with fatigue and muscle weakness, so my times were getting slower and slower.

"I found this out at the end of winter, but I was still giving it my all," Campbell said. "My body adjusted really quickly: It took about a week or two, but I was back in the swing of things."

All things considered, Campbell is fine with outpacing his fourth seed by a slot.

"It was a tough season, a long season," Campbell said. "I'm happy with my performance."

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